Motorists in Germany can now keep their vehicle registration certificate digitally and directly on their smartphone.
In the latest step toward building out digital convenience, Germany has launched a new app designed to make life easier for drivers across the country.
The initiative is part of a broader government push to simplify everyday bureaucracy and modernise public services. In the coming years, this digitalisation drive will also include a digital driving licence and a national “digital wallet” for storing official documents.
The new i-Kfz app
The German government has begun rolling out a new app, called i-Kfz, which is a platform that lets users download and securely store their vehicle registration certificate on their phones.
Developed by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the app aims to make car ownership a little more straightforward.
The app is available to download now on Android and iOS.
To register your vehicle digitally, you’ll need an electronic ID card (eID). If you have a working eID card, you can verify your identity in the app and then download your digital certificate.
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Alternatively, the KBA says a QR code can be generated during the vehicle registration process – either online or at your local registration office – and used to retrieve the document.
The digital certificate will be valid for traffic checks within Germany and will automatically update key information, such as inspection records. Drivers will also be able to share the certificate when renting or lending a car.
However, the digital version currently complements, rather than replaces, the paper certificate. So the paper copy should still be kept in the glove box for now.
Also for police checks elsewhere in Europe, the paper copy is still important to have during this transition phase while the digital version is not yet recognised everywhere.
What to know about vehicle registration certificates
Anyone driving a car or motorcycle in Germany must carry the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (Registration Certificate Part I) by law.
It contains details about both the owner and the vehicle – information officers might need during roadside checks.
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Many drivers keep the document in the glove box or tucked behind the sun visor but forgetting it can be costly. Failing to present it during a police check can lead to a fine.
A digital future for driving licences
A digital driving licence is also on the horizon for drivers in Germany. The federal government currently plans to introduce one by the end of 2026, ahead of an EU-wide rollout scheduled for 2030.
Looking further ahead, the government is also planning a national “digital wallet” by 2027, which would allow residents to store not only official documents like ID cards and driving licences, but also non-governmental documents, such as those needed for everyday tasks like opening a bank account or signing a mobile phone contract.